Transport container with a connection unit for removably connecting side walls

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport container ( 2 ), in particular made from a synthetic material, having a base ( 3 ) and at least two side walls ( 6 ) pivotally joined to the base ( 3 ) by hinge mechanisms ( 11 ), and having a connecting mechanism ( 12 ) arranged in an overlap region between an end face ( 26 ) of a side wall ( 6 ) and an internal face ( 7 ) of the other side wall ( 6 ) for detachably connecting the side walls ( 6 ), acting against the automatic release of the connecting mechanism ( 12 ), the locking mechanism ( 16 ) being provided as a latching element ( 18 ) mounted so as to be displaceable in a side wall ( 6 ) and joined to the side wall ( 6 ) by at least one elastically deformable retaining arm ( 17 ) and displaceable thereby from a locking into a releasing position in the connecting mechanism ( 12 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A transport container, comprising: 
       a base;  
       at least two side walls pivotally joined to the base by hinge mechanisms such that the side walls are pivotable into erected positions generally perpendicular to the base; and  
       a connecting mechanism arranged in an overlap region between an end face of a first of the side walls and an internal face of a second of the side walls for detachably connecting the side walls in the erected positions, a locking mechanism being provided as a latching element mounted so as to be displaceable in the first side wall and joined to the first side wall by at least one elastically deformable retaining arm, the retaining arm having a fixed end and an opposite free end region that forms the latching element, the retaining arm being arranged to be displaced from a locking position into a releasing position in the connecting mechanism, and wherein the first side wall includes a first reinforcing rib proximate the fixed end of the retaining arm and a second reinforcing rib spaced a distance from the first reinforcing rib in a direction of the free end region forming the latching element, the retaining arm projecting through an orifice in the second reinforcing rib such that the second rib is disposed between the free end region of the retaining arm and the first rib, the orifice in the second reinforcing rib serving to retain the retaining arm within the orifice while an inner edge of the orifice forms a pivot surface about which the end region of the retaining arm that forms the latching element pivots to move between the locking position and the releasing position.  
     
     
       2. The transport container of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining arm extends parallel to and between an internal face and an external face of the first side wall and parallel to the base, and the latching element facing the connecting mechanism is widened. 
     
     
       3. The transport container of  claim 1 , wherein the latching element is integrally formed on the retaining arm and a locking surface extending perpendicular to a longitudinal extension of the retaining arm is provided facing the connecting mechanism. 
     
     
       4. The transport container of  claim 1 , wherein the latching element is formed at the free end of the retaining arm and the opposite fixed end of the retaining arm is joined to the first reinforcing rib. 
     
     
       5. The transport container of  claim 4 , wherein the first reinforcing rib extends generally perpendicular to a longitudinal extension of the retaining arm. 
     
     
       6. The transport container of  claim 4 , wherein a distance between the first and second reinforcing ribs corresponds to about ⅔ of a total length between a connecting point of the retaining arm with the first reinforcing rib and a locking surface of the latching element. 
     
     
       7. The transport container of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between an end face of the first side wall and a locking surface of the latching element approximately corresponds to a thickness of the first side wall. 
     
     
       8. The transport container of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining arm is arranged such that when a compression force is applied to a region of the retaining arm between the first and second reinforcing ribs in a direction toward an interior of the transport container, the end region of the retaining arm having the latching element is swung out from a plane of the first side wall toward an external face thereof. 
     
     
       9. The transport container of  claim 1 , wherein a peripheral edge forming an end face of the first side wall lies opposite a locking surface of the latching element and forms a stop surface of the connecting mechanism. 
     
     
       10. The transport container of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining arm is elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to an internal face of the first side wall. 
     
     
       11. The transport container of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining arm is resistant to bending in a plane extending parallel with an internal face of the first side wall. 
     
     
       12. The transport container of  claim 1 , wherein a total length and a width of the retaining arm are each a multiple of a thickness of the retaining arm. 
     
     
       13. The transport container of  claim 1 , wherein the latching element comprises at least one land projecting from at least one surface of the retaining arm. 
     
     
       14. The transport container of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one land comprises a first land supported by side lands on the retaining arm. 
     
     
       15. The transport container of  claim 14 , wherein the first land and the side lands are integral with the retaining arm.